The Sovereignty of God: John Calvin, II
In recognition of the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth, we are highlighting his key thoughts, and nothing is more important to him than the sovereignty of God. Nothing happens, Calvin wrote, apart from God's sovereign will; even suffering is consistent with God's 'hidden plan.' "Without certainty in God's providence, life would be unbearable." (Institutes 1.17.10)
Belief in a sovereign God shapes our faith.
- It is a source of great comfort. Life is not a series of random or accidental happenings - God holds everything together.
- God is in control; we are stewards. We do not claim power or dominion over other people or the world.
- The God in whom we believe is a 'particular' God, a God who 'emptied himself in the form of Jesus and died powerless on the cross.'
Critics of Calvin argued that to confess faith in a sovereign, all powerful God diminishes humans. Not so, responded Calvin, for in Jesus we see that the emptying of the all-powerful-sovereign in the 'Babe of Bethlehem' is the perfection of love. Love gives up power for the one whom it cherishes.
May you sleep well tonight knowing that God is in control of the heavens and earth.
'The sun will not strike you by day nor the moon by night The Lord will guard your going and your coming, now and for ever more.' (Psalm 121) |
